Starting in real estate photophraphy.
May 4, 2018 09:30:53 #
MCoomber
Loc: Hamilton ontario
Hi there.
I'm looking for advice on how to acquire clients to begin another stream of income to my photo business. I already do weddings and special events. I have some experience in architectural photography but no real estate clients. Any constructive advice is always helpful.
I'm looking for advice on how to acquire clients to begin another stream of income to my photo business. I already do weddings and special events. I have some experience in architectural photography but no real estate clients. Any constructive advice is always helpful.
May 4, 2018 09:37:26 #
Tomcat5133
Loc: Gladwyne PA
I have to tell you honestly RE visuals are a chaotic business. i moved to Southeast FL
2 years ago and have had many found that video and aerials for upper scale real estate.
And 360 videography etc. They don't want to pay much. And they are unpredictable.
That said getting hooked up with upscale realtors might be an avenue.
Taking stills of houses and grounds is a question. How good do the photos have to
be. As you know you can fully light rooms. Not many will pay for this production.
But somewhere their is a good compromise of level of quality and compromise.
Good luck
2 years ago and have had many found that video and aerials for upper scale real estate.
And 360 videography etc. They don't want to pay much. And they are unpredictable.
That said getting hooked up with upscale realtors might be an avenue.
Taking stills of houses and grounds is a question. How good do the photos have to
be. As you know you can fully light rooms. Not many will pay for this production.
But somewhere their is a good compromise of level of quality and compromise.
Good luck
May 4, 2018 09:54:33 #
Hi
My daughter-in-law is a realtor and pays $250 per house. She expects (and gets it here in Idaho) about 30 pictures and a minute or so of edited drone footage. You'll need to see what the going rate is in your area but I didn't think I could do much more than break even based on time in the field, at the computer, and travel expenses. Even though I do not want to do that type of photography on a regular basis I've filled in "at the last minute" when she needed someone on short notice which is not uncommon. Take care & ...
My daughter-in-law is a realtor and pays $250 per house. She expects (and gets it here in Idaho) about 30 pictures and a minute or so of edited drone footage. You'll need to see what the going rate is in your area but I didn't think I could do much more than break even based on time in the field, at the computer, and travel expenses. Even though I do not want to do that type of photography on a regular basis I've filled in "at the last minute" when she needed someone on short notice which is not uncommon. Take care & ...
May 4, 2018 10:22:30 #
Some of the realtors around here just use their phones to take basic pictures, The pictures are good enough to get the client to visit the property. With the way the market is now, any house around here does not last too long on the market.
The million dollar homes need a much better presentation and a pro will do a better job.
The million dollar homes need a much better presentation and a pro will do a better job.
May 4, 2018 10:34:16 #
Hello, fellow Canadian!
Your first step should be to create some samples of your work, if you have not already done so. If you have not, as yet, done any real estate jobs you will have to put something together using you own home, or that of a friend, relative or neighbor. Good images showing the features of the rooms, the kitchen, bathrooms, and ant special interior features or details and a good shot of the exterior. You will need a basic portfolio to show when you follow up leads or make sales calls.
Getting started in a new field oftentimes takes allot of work but once you pick up a few clients, build your portfolio and become known in the industry you are serving, things should improve in terms of volume of bookings.
Next, find out of there are any of those monthly magazines, published in you area, that are dedicated to real estate sales and rentals- there are at least 3 here in Ottawa and there are probably similar publications in your geographical area. Start by contacting the publishers- they oftentimes need photographs for their covers or editorial and feature articles. Theses magazines are loaded with ads form real estate brokers, agents and home builders as well as condo developers and rental apartments management companies and landlords. Use theses as a source of leads. Some of the images are rather mediocre so the advertisers may be looking for better quality and service. Also check out the real estate section of you local newspapers.
Another approach is to print up a mini-brochure/business card and visit some of the real estate offices in person. Pavement pounding can yield surprising results.
Your experience in architectural and wedding photography will serve you well. You will know how to control perspective, avoid distortions. As a wedding shooter you will know how to work in difficult and sometimes unexpected lighting conditions think on you feet and get things done properly in limited time frames.
Techniques- You can do well with available light plus electronic flash or tungsten fill, depending on the main source of ambient light in the location. In some cases, you may need to bring in more lighting. A selection of wide angle lenses, of course, is required.
Business- You will need to construct a price schedule for various categories of work. You will need to research the "going rates" in your area but you can not necessarily base your fees on the price lists of others, especially if you work is superior. You need to decided if you will work on low or high volume and adjust you profit margins accordingly.
I hope his helps.
Your first step should be to create some samples of your work, if you have not already done so. If you have not, as yet, done any real estate jobs you will have to put something together using you own home, or that of a friend, relative or neighbor. Good images showing the features of the rooms, the kitchen, bathrooms, and ant special interior features or details and a good shot of the exterior. You will need a basic portfolio to show when you follow up leads or make sales calls.
Getting started in a new field oftentimes takes allot of work but once you pick up a few clients, build your portfolio and become known in the industry you are serving, things should improve in terms of volume of bookings.
Next, find out of there are any of those monthly magazines, published in you area, that are dedicated to real estate sales and rentals- there are at least 3 here in Ottawa and there are probably similar publications in your geographical area. Start by contacting the publishers- they oftentimes need photographs for their covers or editorial and feature articles. Theses magazines are loaded with ads form real estate brokers, agents and home builders as well as condo developers and rental apartments management companies and landlords. Use theses as a source of leads. Some of the images are rather mediocre so the advertisers may be looking for better quality and service. Also check out the real estate section of you local newspapers.
Another approach is to print up a mini-brochure/business card and visit some of the real estate offices in person. Pavement pounding can yield surprising results.
Your experience in architectural and wedding photography will serve you well. You will know how to control perspective, avoid distortions. As a wedding shooter you will know how to work in difficult and sometimes unexpected lighting conditions think on you feet and get things done properly in limited time frames.
Techniques- You can do well with available light plus electronic flash or tungsten fill, depending on the main source of ambient light in the location. In some cases, you may need to bring in more lighting. A selection of wide angle lenses, of course, is required.
Business- You will need to construct a price schedule for various categories of work. You will need to research the "going rates" in your area but you can not necessarily base your fees on the price lists of others, especially if you work is superior. You need to decided if you will work on low or high volume and adjust you profit margins accordingly.
I hope his helps.
May 4, 2018 17:16:50 #
First thought is 'proof read' your literature....Bad spelling and gramatical errors STILL put people off. (No, I don't write my advertising without passing it past my wife. Two brains better than one)
You have two businesses. Can you not add to those? Diversity is good but also creates additional time constraints. Is it not better to be an 'expert' in one 'who also does that as well'. Once the list of what you 'do' gets longer, the less likely you keep people's expectations of a quality result. Specialist v handyman. (not so true of those that teach where a broad subject skill is better than a narrow one)
Just my immediate thoughts.
You have two businesses. Can you not add to those? Diversity is good but also creates additional time constraints. Is it not better to be an 'expert' in one 'who also does that as well'. Once the list of what you 'do' gets longer, the less likely you keep people's expectations of a quality result. Specialist v handyman. (not so true of those that teach where a broad subject skill is better than a narrow one)
Just my immediate thoughts.
May 5, 2018 19:41:36 #
Go to Zillow for your area. Pick a price range you want to address, then start looking at houses/condos/townhouses. When you find one with really poor photography (which will be often), contact the realtor and tactfully suggest you could enhance her sales with professional photography. You’ll want to include a link to samples of your work and proposed pricing. Then follow up asking if he/she would like you to shoot one of their properties as a free or reduced intro price for the first one as a demonstration of your added value, and take it from there...
May 5, 2018 21:54:03 #
http://photographyforrealestate.net/ has tons of articles on how to get started and the special techniques RE photographers use, plus pricing and promoting your business....
May 5, 2018 22:05:43 #
DavidPine
Loc: Fredericksburg, TX
There are quite a few social sites revolving around real estate photography. Especially on Facebook. Scott Hargis and Mike Kelly are two successful real estate and architectural photographers worth mentioning. I retired this year from real estate photography. Anyone with a DSLR thinks it is easy money to become a real estate photographer. It isn't. It's a complicated and highly competitive business and to survive you have to be a really capable photographer and a good business person. Outside of that, it's just marketing 101. Good luck.
May 11, 2018 10:19:07 #
Tomcat5133
Loc: Gladwyne PA
Well the $250 the gentlemen's daughter pays for 30 shots including a drone shot is really low. But I have heard
that price and lower $150 in my old neighborhood in PA. Look if people want the work then OK. Having known a
Architectural Digest shooter and what goes into high quality shots I wonder where this deal goes.
I have a Sony a a6300 and a 16 70 zeiss lens. I have full frame etc. but this what I would use. And when I do
PR shots for people I tweak in photoshop. It is a shame that creative has been devalued to a commodity.
But like others need some extra cash so do projects that are low budget. Good luck.
that price and lower $150 in my old neighborhood in PA. Look if people want the work then OK. Having known a
Architectural Digest shooter and what goes into high quality shots I wonder where this deal goes.
I have a Sony a a6300 and a 16 70 zeiss lens. I have full frame etc. but this what I would use. And when I do
PR shots for people I tweak in photoshop. It is a shame that creative has been devalued to a commodity.
But like others need some extra cash so do projects that are low budget. Good luck.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.